It would be an understatement to say that retired electrical engineer Bruce Campbell, 73, lives in a distinctive house.
How many individuals may claim to truly live in an aircraft? in a forest? There are many fascinating houses in the world, and Campbell’s Boeing 727 is undoubtedly one of the best.
200 passengers can fit inside Campbell’s 1,066 square foot, 70,000 pound airplane.
He paid $100,000 for the plane in 1999, and his monthly power and property tax payments total $370.
Would you ever consider living in an airplane while you’re en route? Although it could have seemed like an odd decision for someone who was interested by machinery and airplanes, like an electrical engineer, it makes sense.
In particular, Campbell’s passion for flying dates back to his adolescent years. He remembered seeing an airplane boneyard, or a field of aircraft that could not fly, on television when he was 15 years old.
He asked himself, “Why just throw away a perfectly good airplane body?” at the time. It seemed like such a waste to leave those abandoned planes to rust and decompose in a field.
The electrical engineer believed that grounded aircraft could still be useful even though they might not be safe to fly any longer.
Years later, he made the decision to acquire one. Finding a retired aircraft is not exactly simple, so Campbell hired a salvage company to do it for him.
That was a Whopper caliber error, he said. I’ll never repeat that mistake. The industry of salvage is wrecking. I strongly advise just purchasing a jetliner that is entirely whole and operational, with the possible exception of the engines being removed.
The company located Campbell a Boeing 727 in Greece after months of looking.
Former owner of the aircraft was Aristotle Onassis, the Greek-Argentinean shipping tycoon and husband of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, a former first lady.
The aircraft was flown from Greece to Oregon and prepped for ownership after Campbell purchased it.
The entire procedure, which cost $120,000, involved taking off the engines and other components to make sure the jet could never take flight again.
When the airplane was prepared, it was hauled through Hillsboro’s downtown streets to the electrical engineer’s property.
On the 10-acre parcel of land he purchased for $25,800 in the early 1970s, the airplane is currently parked.
Naturally, you wouldn’t want to alter the appearance of the aircraft, but Campbell’s house is a true home from the inside out.
The transformation of the airplane cost about $15,000 and took two years. The food service cart from another airline that acts as the pantry, a temporary sink, a portable washing machine, and a temporary shower were added by the electrical engineer..
Additionally, the toaster oven and microwave on the aircraft are seldom ever used. I’m a nerd, stated Campbell. I don’t cook, so it’s a minimal kitchen area.”
In addition, he has a futon in the kitchen area that serves as both a workspace and a bed for him.
Much of the fuselage is supported by inventive wooden beams that were constructed outside in a staggered arrangement.
Campbell is content with his unique house. I have no regrets about pursuing this ambition, he declared.
My interactions with my visitors have led me to hope that humanity will fully embrace this vision and do so in such a way that every aircraft that is retired from service can be used.
I have no regrets about pursuing this idea, he continued. Fun is had. The residences on jetliners are extremely cool.
Campbell refers to the aircraft as his “nerd cave.” The electrical engineer spends his time working on the aircraft’s electrical systems and repairing various electronic gadgets as a pastime. He also welcomes visitors to his aircraft and gives them a tour.
Since his partner lives in Japan and does not want to live on an airplane, he divides his time between the US and Japan.
Campbell is inspired to construct a home akin to this in Japan one day so he can be near the people he loves. But for the time being, he is content with his existence, residing close to the woods in his airplane home.
“You feel a little more fulfilled with your life when you live in a structure like this,” he said. It’s also a happier place to live if you’re an engineer, scientist, or someone who enjoys the grace and beauty of aerospace technology.
Take a look at Campbell’s amazing airplane home in the video below:
